Phuzz Phest 2014 and RiverRun International Film Festival on Triad Arts Weekend

Festival season has arrived, and in a big way. Two major arts festivals that call Winston-Salem home launch tonight, and the Triad Arts team has worked their microphones to the capsule to bring you an inside look. First up, it's the Phuzz Phest Music Festival. This weekend festival features more than 50 bands, and while we couldn't get to all of them we do have music & interviews with No Age, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Love Language, Must Be The Holy Ghost and many more. Then we turn our attention to the silver screen and the 16^th annual RiverRun International Film Festival. The 12 day festival has a film for every taste, and in honor of those that refuse to be defined or confined by genre, we're bringing you an interview with filmmaker David Gordon Green. He's been behind the lens making us laugh uncomfortably with Eastbound and Down and Pineapple Express, and now he's inching back to his roots with the dark drama Joe. Then Associate Producer Bethany Chafin talks with Filmmakers Safyah Usmani and Tania Kharchenko, about their Documentary short “Songs of Hope.” You can listen to the complete Triad Arts Weekend show (above), or check out the Phuzz Phest and RiverRun segments below.

Phuzz Phest 2014

The 4^th Annual Phuzz Phest kicks off on Friday April 4^th, and rocks through Sunday, April 6^th. The three day festival will feature over 50 bands, culling from local, regional, national, and international performers from a variety of genres, performing at venues all over Winston-Salem. There will also be day parties, after parties, a coffee conference, bike race, and so much more.

Today's show features a mind-blowing, fast-paced preview of (just) some of the many bands you can hear this weekend including No Age, Caleb Caudle, The Sweets, Must Be The Holy Ghost, The Bo-Stevens, Estrangers, The Genuine, The Love Language, and Jews and Catholics.  We also have a longer interview with Jessica Lea Mayfield.  Her new album, Make My Head Sing, comes out on April 15th from ATO Records.

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RiverRun International Film Festival

The 16^th Annual RiverRun International Film Festival kicks off on Friday April 4^th, and runs through Sunday April 13^th. From full length features, to documentary shorts, to archival screenings, to international sensations, and into the world of animation and so much more, there's something for every taste.  Take note that there are a few free family & dog friendly screenings, as well as panel discussions that are open to the public.

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David Gordon Green

Eddie's guest today is filmmaker David Gordon Green. David burst onto the film scene with his critically acclaimed film George Washington, which was shot in Forsyth County. He went on to make films in a variety of genres, from serious fare like All The Real Girls & Undertow, to comedies like Pineapple Express, and the HBO series Eastbound and Down. His film Prince Avalanche screened at last year's RiverRun, and this year he brings us Joe, a southern gothic starring Nicolas Cage. David Gordon green graduated from UNCSA in 1998, and he started off talking about his experience there.

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Tania Kharchenko and Safyah Usmani, "Songs of Hope"

Safyah Usmani and Tania Kharchenko tell stories through film.  Both are Fulbright Scholars currently studying with Wake Forest University's Documentary Film Program.  Their most recent documentary short focuses on homelessness in Winston-Salem.  "Songs of Hope" will be included in RiverRun's North Carolina Documentary Shorts and screening at 1:00pm on April 6th and at 3:00pm on April 11th.  Both screenings are at the Hanesbrands Theatre.  Tania and Safyah stopped by WFDD to tell Bethany Chafin about their filmmaking process.